" For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. "

When I was thinking about what verse to use with the message today this verse jumped out at me. I then realized I hadn't used it yet for a Key Verse. What a shame on my part, this is such a fundamental verse for us to build our lives on.

Ephesians may have been more of a sermon Paul wrote down then just a letter. Much like the letter to the Romans there are fewer personal references to individuals and more of a flow, following an outline. The message of Ephesians is that of unity. Chapters 1-3 our unity with God through Christ. Chapters 4-6 our unity then with one another, built on what God has done for us through the cross of Christ.

These three verses are as simple and profound a statement you will find on our salvation. We don't earn it, we don't deserve it, but we receive it through faith, and even that we are allowed such faith is by grace as a gift from God. We can't brag or boast to others of how special we are that God just had to save us. We are his workmanship, we are immersed in his grace, we have been prepared by him for him.

Paul would elsewhere say where is the boasting? I can't expect for this one thing, Christ died for me. Of that I can boast, but not in myself., but boast in Christ.

"For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was burled, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. . ."1﻿ Corinthians 15:3,4﻿﻿What﻿ if there wasn't a life after this one? What if this were all them was, nothing more, nothing less? Some in Corinth believed and taught that. Paul said if that were true then Jesus himself didn't rise from the dead, since there is no life afterwards, And if that is true our faith is a sham, a lie, nothing. Paul goes on to defend our belief later in chapter 15, but It all begins with this statement of faith in verses 3 & 4, this is the gospel message. Jesus brought many fine lessons and taught great truths, but we are not saved by his teaching. Jesus performed miracles, giving sight to the blind and causing the lame to walk. I'm sure they were grateful, but these are not the miracles that save us. Jesus was born in an unusual way, a virgin birth, but It was not his birth that saved us. Paul makes it clear, of first importance Christ died for cur sins and on the third day was raised again. In his death we have forgiveness; in his resurrection we have the promise of now life. There is life after death, just ask Jesus, he's been there and back. That is our hope, that is the foundation of our faith. Is there anything else more important in your life? Well there shouldn't be.